Messi is the first Argentine player to receive the honor from the US President, along with famous figures such as Hillary Clinton, Bill Nye and Jane Goodall. This is the highest civilian honor in the US, but surprisingly Messi did not attend.
Messi has a special reason for not attending the medal award ceremony from the US President
This 37-year-old famous player is playing for Inter Miami Club playing in MLS (American professional soccer league), creating many great effects with fans in this country who increasingly love soccer, in addition to other sports. other.
Messi was honored because “he supports health and education programs for children around the world through his Leo Messi Foundation and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador,” a White House announcement said.
However, during the ceremony to receive a special medal from US President Joe Biden on January 5, Messi was absent, leaving many people unclear as to why.
According to the sheet AS (Spain): “In fact, Messi’s representative team sent a letter to President Joe Biden, explaining why he could not participate in the event that was such a great personal honor. this famous player”.
“The White House notified FIFA (World Football Federation), and FIFA notified the club (Inter Miami) at the end of December 2024 that Messi will be awarded this award. Messi, through the club, sent a letter to the White House stating that he felt deeply honored and that receiving this award was a great privilege.
But due to scheduling conflicts and previous commitments, he will not be able to attend the ceremony. He thanked this gesture and noted that he hopes to have the opportunity to meet the US President in the near future,” said a statement from Messi’s representative group.
According to the sheet AS: “Messi has long been a person who is very reluctant to appear in public at non-football events. He prioritizes his privacy when he is not playing or resting. However, Messi did not come. Receiving the honor from the US President also surprised many people, because this is a rare honor and very few people in the sports world can achieve it.”
Messi is currently resting with his family in his hometown in Argentina. He and his teammates are expected to return to Inter Miami Club, preparing to play in the new MLS 2025 season from January 10.
